sir nigel-第56章
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hanging there head downward。 A howl of exultation burst from the
English at the sight； answered by a wild roar of anger from the
Spaniards。 A seaman had run from the Lion's hold and whispered in
the ear of the shipman。 He turned an ashen face upon the Prince。
〃It is even as I say； sire。 The ship is sinking beneath our
feet！〃 he cried。
〃The more need that we should gain another；〃 said he。 〃Sir Henry
Stokes； Sir Thomas Stourton； William； John of Clifton； here。 lies
our road！ Advance my banner； Thomas de Mohun！ On； and the day is
ours！〃
By a desperate scramble a dozen men； the Prince at their bead；
gained a footing on the edge of the Spaniard's deck。 Some slashed
furiously to clear a space； others hung over； clutching the rail
with one hand and pulling up their comrades from below。 Every
instant that they could hold their own their strength increased；
till twenty had become thirty and thirty forty； when of a sudden
the newcomers； still reaching forth to their comrades below； saw
the deck beneath them reel and vanish in a swirling sheet of foam。
The Prince's ship had foundered。
A yell went up from the Spaniards as they turned furiously upon
the small band who had reached their deck。 Already the Prince and
his men had carried the poop； and from that high station they beat
back their swarming enemies。 But crossbow darts pelted and
thudded among their ranks till a third of their number were
stretched upon the planks。 Lined across the deck they could
hardly keep an unbroken front to the leaping； surging crowd who
pressed upon them。 Another rush； or another after that； must
assuredly break them； for these dark men of Spain； hardened by an
endless struggle with the Moors； were fierce and stubborn
fighters。 But hark to this sudden roar upon the farther side of
them
〃Saint George！ Saint George！ A Knolles to the rescue！〃 A small
craft had run alongside and sixty men had swarmed on the deck of
the St。 Iago。 Caught between two fires； the Spaniards wavered and
broke。 The fight became a massacre。 Down from the poop sprang
the Prince's men。 Up from the waist rushed the new…corners。
There were five dreadful minutes of blows and screams and prayers
with struggling figures clinging to the bulwarks and sullen
splashes into the water below。 Then it was over； and a crowd of
weary； overstrained men leaned panting upon their weapons； or lay
breathless and exhausted upon the deck of the captured carack。
The Prince had pulled up his visor and lowered his beaver。 He
smiled proudly as he gazed around him and wiped his streaming
face。 〃Where is the shipman？ he asked。 〃Let him lead us against
another ship。〃
〃Nay； sire； the shipman and all his men have stink in the Lion；〃
said Thomas de Mohun； a young knight of the West Country； who
carried the standard。 〃We have lost our ship and the half of our
following。 I fear that we can fight no more。〃
〃It matters the less since the day is already ours；〃 said the
Prince； looking over the sea。 〃My noble father's royal banner
flies upon yonder Spaniard。 Mowbray； Audley； Suffolk； Beauchamp；
Namur； Tracey； Stafford； Arundel； each has his flag over a scarlet
carack； even as mine floats over this。 See； yonder squadron is
already far beyond our reach。 But surely we owe thanks to you who
came at so perilous a moment to our aid。 Your face I have seen；
and your coat…armor also； young sir； though I cannot lay my tongue
to your name。 Let me know that I may thank you。〃
He had turned to Nigel； who stood flushed and joyous at the head
of the boarders from the Basilisk。
〃I am but a Squire； sire； and can claim no thanks； for there is
nothing that I have done。 Here is our leader。〃
The Prince's eyes fell upon the shield charged with the Black
Raven and the stern young face of him who bore it。 〃Sir Robert
Knolles；〃 said he； 〃I had thought you were on your way to
Brittany。〃
〃I was so； sire； when I had the fortune to see this battle as I
passed。〃
The Prince laughed。 〃It would indeed be to ask too much； Robert；
that you should keep on your course when much honor was to be
gathered so close to you。 But now I pray you that you will come
back with us to Winchelsea； for well I know that my father would
fain thank you for what you have done this day。〃
But Robert Knolles shook his head。 〃I have your father's command；
sire； and without his order I may not go against it。 Our people
are hard…pressed in Brittany； and it is not for me to linger on
the way。 I pray you； sire； if you must needs mention me to the
King； to crave his pardon that I should have broken my journey
thus。〃
〃You are right； Robert。 God…speed you on your way！ And I would
that I were sailing under your banner； for I see clearly that you
will take your people where they may worshipfully win worship。
Perchance I also maybe in Brittany before the year is past。〃
The Prince turned to the task of gathering his weary people
together； and the Basilisks passed over the side once more and
dropped down on to their own little ship。 They poled her off from
the captured Spaniard and set their sail with their prow for the
south。 Far ahead of them were their two consorts； beating towards
them in the hope of giving help； while down Channel were a score
of Spanish ships with a few of the English vessels hanging upon
their skirts。 The sun lay low on the water； and its level beams
glowed upon the scarlet and gold of fourteen great caracks； each
flying the cross of Saint George； and towering high above the
cluster of English ships which； with brave waving of flags and
blaring of music； were moving slowly towards the Kentish coast。
XVIII。 HOW BLACK SIMON CLAIMED FORFEIT FROM THE KING OF SARK
For a day and a half the small fleet made good progress； but on
the second morning； after sighting Cape de la Hague； there came a
brisk land wind which blew them out to sea。 It grew into a squall
with rain and fog so that they were two more days beating back。
Next morning they found themselves in a dangerous rock studded sea
with a small island upon their starboard quarter。 It was girdled
with high granite cliffs of a reddish hue； and slopes of bright
green grassland lay above them。 A second smaller island lay
beside it。 Dennis the shipman shook his head as he looked。
〃That is Brechou；〃 said he； 〃and the larger one is the Island of
Sark。 If ever I be cast away； I pray the saints that I may not be
upon yonder coast！〃
Knolles gazed across at it。 〃You say well； master…shipman；〃 said
he。 〃It does appear to be a rocky and perilous spot。〃
〃Nay； it is the rocky hearts of those who dwell upon it that I had
in my mind；〃 the old sailor answered。 〃We are well safe in three
goodly vessels； but had we been here in a small craft I make no
doubt that they would have already had their boats out against
us。〃
〃Who then are these people； and how do they live upon so small and
windswept an island？〃 asked the soldier。
〃They do not live from the island； fair sir； but from what they
can gather upon the sea around it。 They are broken folk from all
countries； justice…fliers； prison…breakers； reavers； escaped
bondsmen； murderers and staff…strikers who have made their way to
this outland place and hold it against all comers。 There is one
here who could tell you of them and of their ways； for he was long
time prisoner amongst them。〃 The seaman pointed to Black Simon；
the dark man from Norwich； who was leaning against the side lost
in moody thought and staring with a brooding eye at the distant
shore。
〃How now； fellow？〃 asked Knolles。 〃What is this I hear？ Is it
indeed sooth that you have been a captive upon this island？〃
〃It is true； fair sir。 For eight months I have been servant to
the man whom they call their King。 His name is La Muette； and he
comes from Jersey nor is there under God's sky a man whom I have
more desire to see。〃
〃Has he then mishandled you？〃
Black Simon gave a wry smile and pulled off his jerkin。 His lean
sinewy back was waled and puckered with white scars。 〃He has left
his sign of hand upon me；〃 said he。 〃He swore that he would break
me to his will； and thus he tried to do it
